Content
Content Audit
A practical UX and content strategy method for assessing content quality, relevance, and consistency across a product or website.
How to run a content audit to identify gaps, remove redundancy, and prioritise updates that improve usability and outcomes.
Quick take
If your content is messy, outdated, or inconsistent, a content audit shows you what’s working and what isn’t.
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What it is
A glossaryContent AuditA content audit is the process of reviewing and evaluating all existing content to understand its quality, performance, relevance, and accuracy.Open glossary term is a UX and glossaryContent StrategyContent strategy defines how content is planned, created, managed, and maintained to meet both user needs and business goals.Open glossary term method used to evaluate all content in a product or website.
It involves reviewing text, images, videos, and other media for quality, accuracy, glossaryFaceted NavigationFaceted navigation is a system that allows users to filter content across multiple attributes simultaneously, combining different criteria to refine results.Open glossary term, and glossaryAlignmentAlignment is the shared understanding and agreement between teams, stakeholders, and objectives.Open glossary term with goals.
Audits identify gaps, redundancies, outdated content, and areas needing glossaryOptimisationOptimisation is the process of improving a product or journey to increase performance, usability, or conversion.Open glossary term.
The focus is on improving content effectiveness, glossaryClarityClarity is how easily users can understand what is happening and what they need to do.Open glossary term, and glossaryUsabilityUsability is how easy and efficient it is for users to complete tasks within a product. It focuses on clarity, simplicity, and reducing effort so users can achieve their goals without confusion or friction.Open glossary term.
The goal is to ensure content meets user needs and supports glossaryBusiness ObjectivesBusiness objectives are specific, measurable goals that an organisation aims to achieve over a defined period.Open glossary term.
A content audit turns content sprawl into a clear plan for improvement.
When to use it
Use this method when you need to assess and improve content.
It is most useful when:
It is less useful when:
Content audits are often used before redesigns, SEO work, or UX optimisation.
Key takeaway
Run a content audit before major content decisions so priorities are evidence-based.
How to run it
Set up properly.
Before you start, be clear on the scope of content to audit, the goals and metrics for assessment, and how you will collect and organise glossaryDataData is raw information collected and stored for analysis, processing, or decision-making.Open glossary term.
Include all relevant content types and sources.
Run the method.
glossaryContent AuditA content audit is the process of reviewing and evaluating all existing content to understand its quality, performance, relevance, and accuracy.Open glossary term are systematic and evaluative.
Inventory all content. Evaluate against criteria such as accuracy, glossaryClarityClarity is how easily users can understand what is happening and what they need to do.Open glossary term, glossaryFaceted NavigationFaceted navigation is a system that allows users to filter content across multiple attributes simultaneously, combining different criteria to refine results.Open glossary term, and tone. Identify gaps, redundancies, and outdated material. Categorise content for action as keep, update, or delete. Document findings for glossaryStakeholderA stakeholder is any individual or group with an interest in a product, project, or outcome, including internal teams and external parties.Open glossary term.
Focus on actionable glossaryInsightAn insight is a meaningful understanding that explains why something is happening and what it means.Open glossary term, not just cataloguing.
Capture and make sense of it.
The value comes from clear understanding of content health.
After auditing: summarise key findings, prioritise updates based on impact and effort, plan improvements and glossaryGovernanceGovernance defines the rules, processes, and structures that guide decision-making and ensure accountability within an organisation or system.Open glossary term, and track progress over time.
Use this to optimise glossaryContent StrategyContent strategy defines how content is planned, created, managed, and maintained to meet both user needs and business goals.Open glossary term and UX.
What to look for
Focus on:
Where it goes wrong
Most issues come from:
If findings aren’t acted on, the audit fails.
What you get from it
Done properly, this method gives you:
Key takeaway
It helps you create content that supports both users and business goals.
Get in touch
If this sounds like something you need, we can run a glossaryContent AuditA content audit is the process of reviewing and evaluating all existing content to understand its quality, performance, relevance, and accuracy.Open glossary term and help you organise, optimise, and improve your product’s content effectively.
No guesswork. No assumptions. Just content that works for users.
FAQ
Common questions
A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this method.
What is a content audit in UX?
It is a method for evaluating all content to identify gaps, redundancies, and glossaryOptimisationOptimisation is the process of improving a product or journey to increase performance, usability, or conversion.Open glossary term opportunities.
When should you run a content audit?
Before redesigns, major updates, or glossaryOptimisationOptimisation is the process of improving a product or journey to increase performance, usability, or conversion.Open glossary term work.
What can you assess?
Pages, text, media, labels, help content, and more.
Why is it important?
It ensures content meets user needs and glossaryBusiness ObjectivesBusiness objectives are specific, measurable goals that an organisation aims to achieve over a defined period.Open glossary term.
Does a content audit improve UX?
Yes. Clear, relevant content enhances glossaryUsabilityUsability is how easy and efficient it is for users to complete tasks within a product. It focuses on clarity, simplicity, and reducing effort so users can achieve their goals without confusion or friction.Open glossary term and glossaryEngagementEngagement refers to how users interact with a product, content, or experience, including actions like clicks, time spent, and interactions.Open glossary term.